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The Democratic Party hasn’t faced this serious a crisis of confidence and direction since the 1920s. Republicans control the White House, Congress, 33 governorships, and 67 of 98 partisan state legislative chambers nationwide. Even as Americans fill the streets demanding resistance to the extremist agenda of Donald Trump, congressional Democrats often lack the numbers for the pushback.

The right response to this crisis is a retooling of the Democratic National Committee to align it more closely with movements for social and economic justice. The party must make the inside/outside connection that will strengthen immediate resistance to the Trump regime, while improving the long-term electoral prospects of Democrats. Keith Ellison, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, is prepared to do just that. In an impressive field of contenders for the position of DNC chair—including party leaders that The Nation has often praised, like former labor secretary Tom Perez, as well as energetic newcomers like Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana—it is Ellison who combines the ideals, skills, and movement connections that will revitalize the party.

That’s why The Nation enthusiastically endorses Ellison in the contest to lead a DNC that must repurpose itself in order to derail Trump, while at the same time speaking to young voters who won’t settle for anything less than an aggressively progressive opposition party. The job of DNC chair is to build a party that can win elections on every ballot line and in every state. But in an age when party loyalties are weakening, and when movements matter more to tens of millions of Americans than partisan labels, Ellison is ready to build an activist party. In fact, the high-energy congressman (who says he’ll quit his House seat if he wins the DNC post) is already doing that: calling for mass rallies to oppose Trump’s Muslim ban, taking part in those rallies, and then appearing on the Sunday-morning talk shows to rip discriminatory policies as un-American.

Ellison is recognized as a pioneering political figure—the first Muslim congressman, the first African American to represent Minnesota in Washington—who has boldly opposed wars, defended civil liberties, protested racial injustice, and rallied for “$15 and a union.” His leadership bid has excited activists who have marched with him for labor rights, women’s rights, and criminal-justice reform. It has also inspired blowback from some party insiders, who gripe that Ellison is too outspoken in his support for Middle East peace, too close to Bernie Sanders (though he joined Sanders in ardently backing Hillary Clinton last summer), and too passionate in his belief that the DNC must campaign not just for candidates but for justice.

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Ellison is certainly conscientious and courageous. But he is also a disciple of the late Senator Paul Wellstone, whose disciplined approach to politics proved that principled progressives could win transformational victories. Ellison has won 16 elections since his first (as a Minnesota state legislator) in 2002. He was among the first House members to endorse Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential bid and Sanders’s 2016 campaign. He now proposes to bring this idealism and energy to a revitalized DNC—one that relies on small-dollar donations to battle big-money influence with voter mobilization and education drives in rural communities and urban centers.

What makes Ellison’s vision exciting is the fact that he’s already implemented it in Minnesota. As former Minneapolis mayor and DNC vice chair R.T. Rybak says, “I have never seen him campaign only for himself…. Keith has used every campaign to protect every voter’s rights, expand our party’s base, include those left behind, and elevate new leaders. That is exactly what the Democratic Party needs right now.”

Rybak’s right: What distinguishes Keith Ellison is his experience as a progressive who has won and won and won again—and who knows that Democrats can turn red states blue by transforming their party into a movement.

Ellison just doesn't quite cut it.
We need someone to lead the DNC who gives due diligence to the pro-war and pro-Wall Street cabals in the Party.
Tom Perez sounds just about right, besides, his supine posture to Sheldon Adelson and AIPAC is a must.
His admiration for Kissinger protégé Sec. Hill and her courageous support of the Honduran Coup shall attract the lion's share of the Millennial Latino Voters who had opted for Sanders.

I do so wish that in the various DNC forums, Keith Ellison would have the gumption to say the primary was rigged rather than saying - I supported Bernie in the Primary and Hillary in the General and I am proud to have supported both. This sort of statement gets real progressives worried about the lesser of two evils etc. We're here to watch your back, Keith. Do be bold.

(12)(5)

Albert Berarduccisays:

February 4, 2017 at 2:19 pm

The election of a DNC chairperson will not cure what ails the Democratic Party of 2017 in time to build a winning strategy for 2018 and beyond. The DNC chair does not motivate left leaning voters to get out and vote in crucial off year elections, or in presidential years where there is no super-charismatic candidate at the head of the ticket. To the contrary, it is the duty of every individual left or right, but particularly left in this case to assess issues relative to candidates beyond first derivative consequences, get up off their duffs and get out to vote for candidates who serve the principles of social and economic justice. Weakening of the power of Democrats at the ballot box began as we ran scared from the 'success' of the Reagan Revolution in the '80's. How else does one explain why Clintonism has dominated the Party for 25 years? There are many good people running for DNC chair this year, but each one will only be as successful as the energy and enthusiasm self-generated within the hearts and minds of individual Progressives to assess the issues, construct winning arguments, and then putting in whatever the amount of work necessary to 'just win, baby...just win!'--in every election and at every level of the ballot! DNC Chairperson is merely an organizing focus of attention, not responsible for rousing each individual progressive Democrat to do his/her job as citizens in winning back power from the Republicans.

(10)(10)

Fred Carusosays:

February 5, 2017 at 11:30 am

aIf you are suggesting each individual vote with their conscience, great! But then comes the question of "paying the piper" after the election, if won.

She/he has got to be a person that is going to change the party from a fat-cat financed party to a grass-roots financed party - or we will see a split among the people who call themselves progressive - a split to the Greens, which may be the only way forward if the corporations continue to run the government. In which case it may take a few election cycles before the revolution gains traction.

""No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matt 6:24.

No voter/politician can serve both justice and oligarchy, and call it democracy.

(7)(3)

Albert Berarduccisays:

February 5, 2017 at 1:34 pm

I agree with you Mr. Caruso; but, I just as firmly believe that investing too much faith in a DNC Chairperson to pull us out of this post-election funk, we will be following the same queue of lemmings that has so thoroughly failed the left for decades. The 'Revolution' begins at home--in the hearts and minds of everyone of us at the grassroots. We can ill-afford sitting on our hands come 2018 & 2020 (or any special election from now until then). Organize now; vote in droves later and always! We can only blame the person each of us sees in the mirror every morning if this Trumpian Apocalypse continues beyond 2018.

(1)(0)

Clark M Shanahansays:

February 5, 2017 at 2:18 pm

Albert,
As one who has knocked on many doors for the party,
I can assure you that if the Dem deep pockets insist to continue the corporatist path laid out by WJC (with the assistance of Koch Industries, Chevron, Philip Morris, DuPont, et al) it will be time to call for boycott of the party. We cannot fight Trump successfully with the oligarchy still pulling the strings. Impossible.

(7)(1)

Linda Sleffelsays:

February 3, 2017 at 11:02 pm

I definitely support Ellison.

We have to rebuild the party from the ground up. As both Ellison and Sanders have said, it must be a grassroots party, with organizing not just in every state, but in every county. We must offer candidates in races from school board to president. However, we must support only progressive candidates; we don't need any more Blue Dog members of Congress who don't share our goals.

The party must represent the interests of working people, the middle class, and poor people who are really suffering. They are our constituency, not corporations or the financial industry.

We must focus on good jobs, a $15-an-hour minimum wage with inflation adjustments, single-payer health care, and a new tax system that reduces the extreme inequality the present one has created.

I agree with Ellison that members of the DNC must not be lobbyists. Small-dollar contributions combined with party fund-raising will allow us to win elections without selling out to corporations and billionaires.

The party must connect with other progressive organizations that are resisting the Trumpery administration, such as the Working Families Party, Our Revolution, MoveOn, the Movement for Black Lives and Indivisible.

The Clinton era is over, although its fallout in the form of mass incarceration and banking deregulation will be with us for decades. The thought that Hillary Clinton might run for president in 2020 makes my blood run cold.

It's obvious that Bernie Sanders was the only candidate in any party who generated real enthusiasm. Bernie's kind of campaign, and the people who joined and supported his campaign are the only path to recovering city, state, and federal offices. Keith Ellison shares that passion for the kind of campaign that will make Democrats winners again, and I will be supporting him and the party all the way.

(25)(36)

Robert Bornemansays:

February 6, 2017 at 2:29 am

Why on earth is Linda's post getting downvotes here at The Nation? Can the downvoters explain it, or do they just wish to arbitrarily assert a rather odd opposition to this very cogent and appropriate post with no comment?

(4)(0)

Luis Zuluagasays:

February 3, 2017 at 8:14 pm

The dems need to get rid of all blue dogs, and corporate cronies. There is no way a progressive would want to go back to the same all establishment only different from repubicans is party color. Dems have fooled too many generations already, and now they have to face reality. We live in different times where the facts are easy to check for those who care. Poor record my blue friends.

(23)(20)

Klaus Magersays:

February 3, 2017 at 6:34 pm

I would suggest to follow Bernie on this one; after all, he is the only Democratic candidate who captured the times and delivered the right message. If he thinks Ellison is the right guy, let's make it happen.

(17)(20)

Greg Gautsays:

February 3, 2017 at 12:04 pm

Many of us in Minneapolis feel that the only downside to Keith Ellison becoming the DNC chair is that we will lose him as our congressman.

(14)(32)

Clark M Shanahansays:

February 4, 2017 at 5:56 pm

How ten creeps would go thumbs down on such a comment is beyond me.
Please get a life.
The time for denial is long past.

(4)(25)

Robert Bornemansays:

February 6, 2017 at 2:31 am

I suspect these are not real votes. Notice: not ONE of these downvotes has left a comment, on ANY of the comments in support of the article initiating this thread. It looks awfully suspicious to me.

(3)(2)

Clark M Shanahansays:

February 6, 2017 at 2:51 pm

Robert,
It is either as you suggest, or they honestly disagree and, yet, are incapable of giving a counter argument.

The Nation's next editorial should be to support a ban of the "super delegates" from the nominating process - and flush them down the toilet of history.

The super delegates system (partnering with the corporate media) was a means of suppressing the will (and wisdom) of the people. We just saw that.

The super delegates were an arm of oligarchy and elitism, which cannot co-exist within a true democracy.

(32)(10)

Thomas Webersays:

February 2, 2017 at 9:43 pm

How will the DNC turn out votes in rural precincts around the country? These have a disproportionate representation in state legislative races and in the Electoral College and set the table for an electorate with a delicate tipping point leading to dramatic swings (from Clinton to Bush to Obama to Trump). Can Ellison engage these constituencies?

(14)(6)

William J Forrestsays:

February 6, 2017 at 8:55 pm

Frankly, I don't know. But if the editorial board of TheNation and Bernie Sanders are endorsing Ellison, that's pretty strong. Now if he can borrow some of the issues from the Green Party, that could generate positive excitement and, hopefully, progress.

(1)(0)

Fred Carusosays:

February 3, 2017 at 12:43 am

Yes.

(2)(28)

Betsy Smithsays:

February 2, 2017 at 6:40 pm

As a Bernie delegate to the Convention and a member of Our Revolution, I enthusiastically support Ellison for DNC Chair. He brings to the table a deep understanding of what our goals are as a party. We need some introspection on the part of our state committees, too, so that we can remember who the Dems are--whom we represent and what we stand for. Keith Ellison will remind us of those things every day.

(19)(18)

Charles K Blacksays:

February 2, 2017 at 5:29 pm

Howard Dean and Garrison Keillor to the contrary, Keith Ellison is The Man. I have no doubt that he is what is needed to lead the party out of the wilderness. He understands the value of listening (what a concept) to the people, as was suggested by Carville. He knows the value of grassroots organizing. The DNC is worried about funding. Bernie demonstrated quite well that the people will support you monetarily if your message resonates with them.

(25)(21)

Fred Carusosays:

February 3, 2017 at 11:20 pm

Yes, Sanders was the one who proved you can run with no dirty money at all, just small contributions,

and he would have won, if the DLC/DNC/Clinton Campaign had not played dirty with the "referee" working for them.

(18)(10)

Richmond Floydsays:

February 2, 2017 at 4:40 pm

Can someone please explain to me why he supported billionaire donor Stephen Bittel for Florida Democratic Party chair? There were much more progressive options and Florida is an important state that has lacked sufficient leadership for as long as I can remember. I've also heard that he has gone back on his promise to ban corporate donations and will instead put it up for a vote by the (presumably much less progressive) party leadership.

(12)(2)

Charles K Blacksays:

February 2, 2017 at 5:34 pm

Still a major improvement over DWS. Whom would you prefer?

(6)(5)

Richmond Floydsays:

February 3, 2017 at 9:04 am

I agree, but all the people running would be much better. I really just want someone to explain to me his recent decisions because I'm deeply disappointed in the democratic party in my home state and I can't imagine a justifiable reason for him to do these things.

(7)(1)

Karin Eckvallsays:

February 2, 2017 at 1:30 pm

Great endorsement; I think Ellison will do well. I was also very impressed with Pete Buttigieg, who talked about speaking to people where they live (their lived experience), and with Ray Buckley, the party chair in New Hampshire. (Are their vice chair positions?)

Unimpressed with Perez, who made it clear he's still devoted to PAC money. Also, leaked emails revealed that he was behind the Clinton strategy (which your very own Joan Walsh carried out faithfully) of making it seem that Sanders was only supported by angry white males, in order to discourage minorities and women from supporting him.

(24)(10)

Fred Carusosays:

February 3, 2017 at 12:46 am

references/links please.

(3)(4)

Brian Mcdonaldsays:

February 2, 2017 at 1:27 pm

Please read Kurt Eichenwald's article" The myths the Democrats swallowed that cost them the presidential election" Please read the last 3 paragraphs twice.

(8)(4)

Max T Furrsays:

February 2, 2017 at 1:14 pm

Sanders, Warren and Ellison have it right. The ROOT cause of most of your economic woes is MONEY IN POLITICS!

I do not believe that this nation will ever see anything resembling true social and economic justice until the money pipeline that runs from Wall Street to congressional pockets is blown up.

Put Ellison in charge! Restore honor and purpose to the Democratic Party. Light the fuse. If Democrats grow the spine necessary to push that message, most Americans would take up the chant (short of those who simply hate democrats and falsely believe that socialism equals communism).

(26)(7)

Fred Carusosays:

February 3, 2017 at 11:30 pm

Socialism defies definition: countries fighting each other can both be "socialists." The Soviets, the Nazis, Sweden and Scandinavian countries, and many other countries, call themselves socialists.

The same can be said for "democratic" (elected) governments, which can have elections that mean nothing, because they are rigged by business interests.

(1)(5)

Veronika A Conantsays:

February 2, 2017 at 12:02 pm

I am a childhood survivor of the Holocaust, who escaped in 1956 from a Soviet occupied totalitarian regime in Hungary in order to live in a Democracy. I am a Bernie Sanders supporter. After a most discouraging election where too many wrong decisions were made by the mainstream Democratic Party, I very strongly support Keith Ellison, a genuine progressive Democrat and his 50 state strategy. Thank you Nation for endorsing him. His election to serve as DNC Chair, is the only way to keep me from becoming an Independent.

(38)(11)

Curtis Carpentersays:

February 2, 2017 at 11:13 am

Just once I'd like to get something from the Democratic party that actually had some content and wasn't just a fear-mongering email targeted at soliciting a donation.

It's good if Ellison will push to create a real plan. Even better if he would make the effort to communicate it to those of us who can't afford to attend $25,000 a plate dinners.

(30)(2)

Newell Mccartysays:

February 2, 2017 at 9:54 am

A good endorsement. I can almost always rely on "The Nation" to do the right thing.

(12)(9)

Richard Phelpssays:

February 2, 2017 at 6:30 pm

Except JW pandering for Clinton with alternative facts about Bernie.

(13)(5)

Diane Smithsays:

February 3, 2017 at 7:58 am

The secret to continue loving the Nation, Richard, is to just not read Joan Walsh, who represents the old DNC/DLC. If we ignore her, she may not go away, but at least we do not give her the power to ruin our day.